Man Card

Masculine stamps and accessories can be difficult to find.  As the mom of two teenage boys I jump at most any product I find that I can use on cards for them and their friends.   When I saw the gears stencil at My Favorite Things I knew I had to have it for my son's upcoming 19th <gasp> birthday card.  It matches perfectly with the mini gears (by Tim Holtz), I have been hoarding.    I don't know why I have been hoarding thess little goodies, because they are still available for purchase, but now that I opened the pack I've already used half of them!  Time to order more.  ;)

To create this card I sponged the background, then used the stencil to apply silver embossing paste.  Did you know embossing paste comes in more than white & clear?  After it was dry I cut it out with my stitched rectangle die and sponged the edges to give the card a more distressed look.

Stamps: Celebrate (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink: Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky, Gathered Twigs, Tea Dye, Tumbled Glass (Distress); Early Espresso (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!); Copper Foil Paper (???)
Accessories: Gears Stencil (My Favorite Things); Mini Gears (Tim Holtz); Happy Die (SSS); Stitched Rectangle Die (Lil Inker Designs); Metallic Silver Embossing Paste (Dream Weavers)

Stencil MPD Gears

Tim Holtz, Mini Gears, 12 pk

Diecuts With A View 6x6 Cardstock Stack - Foiled 2

Dreamweaver Embossing Paste, Metallic Silver, 4 oz.

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Kit #9

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Kit #12

p.s.  Check out what I found at Ellen Hutson... another set of gears by Tim Holtz called Sprocket Gears!  Oh yes, they have been added to my cart.  ;)  Hubby's birthday is just around the corner.  :)

Sprocket Gears (Tim Holtz)

StampNation Birthday Bash Day 7 ~ Inspired By ~ Simon Says Stamp

Today is the last day of our week long celebration on StampNation celebrating our 4th birthday, and you aren't too late to join in.  Come in fashionably late because you have another week to get your cards made and enter the challenges for your chance to win some amazing prizes from our sponsors.

Click here to join now

I'm wrapping up the week with a double video day.  The first one is here on my blog and the second card/video will be up on StampNation later today.  It was a fun process to see what I came up.  The challenge was to create a project inspired by one of StampNation members.  I chose Karolyn Loncon from Paper Therapy. You can see her original card in the StampNation gallery here.  Clicky

http://youtu.be/4oQ_0rB0eFE

While I was cleaning up the mess I made from this first card I decided to make a second card instead of throwing the painted outline balloons away.  Here's a sneak peek for you of the card and video coming exclusively to StampNation later today.

 Don't forget to pick up your code and freebies today from our sponsor.  Some of them expire TODAY.  

Stamps: Celebrate (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink: Surf Blue (SSS); Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Squeezed Lemonade (Distress) Onyx Black (Versafine)
Paper: 120lb White (Simon Says Stamp); Distress Watercolor Paper (Tim Holtz); Basic Black (Stampin' UP!)
Accessories: Balloon Bouquet Die, Happy Die (Simon Says Stamp); Clear Embossing Powder (SU); Washi Tape (Little B)

StampNation Birthday Bash Day 4 ~ Simon Says Stamp ~ Non Traditional

We are halfway through the Birthday Bash over at StampNation.   I don't want this party to end.  :)  Today I am highlighting one of our sponsors, Simon Says Stamp.  I call them SSS for short here on my blog.  Simon Says Stamp in an online super store for paper crafters.  If there is something you want to buy for making cards, chances are Simon Says Stamp has it.

One of my favorite things about Simon Says Stamp is their exclusive line of products.  They fit my style.  :)  You can find stamps with coordinating dies, ink with matching paper and stencils that are completely unique.  SSS doesn't just follow the paper crafting trends, they create them.  If you've been following along my blog this week you have already seen me use their ink & paper.  Today I'm showcasing their stamps, dies and stencils.

In the video you will see several "experiments" and at least a couple of "fails", but I think I turned them around and turned them into two beautiful cards I would be proud to send to anyone.

http://youtu.be/lWYwh8hiprw 

Supplies
Stamps: Celebrate, Cupcake Party (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink: Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Worn Lipstick (Distress); Versamark
Paper: 120 lb White (SSS); Distress Watercolor Paper (Tim Holtz); Basic Black (Stampin' UP!)
Accessories: Happy Die, Tiny Dots Stencil (SSS); Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); White Embossing Powder (SU)